Packaged product and closure therefor



Nov. 19, 1935. w. J. PIPPERT 2,021,609

PCKAGED FRODUCT AND CLOSURE THEREFOR Filed May 21, 1935 W lTNESS INVENTOR MQW ga/5 d P/PPERr ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 19, 1935 UNITED STATES 2,021,000 PAcKAGEn PnonUc'r AND cLosUaE mamon winmx. rippen, malonvnle, Mame application May 21, 1935, serial No. 22,501

'z claims. (c1. 22a-05) 'Ihis invention relates to the packaging of loose bulk materials such as coffee, in ground or bean form, flour, and other grain, granular and pulverized materials as'are usually purchased by the housewife in small quantities.

The object of the invention is to securely put up such materials in package form ofv a definite weight or quantity, securely sealed against sifting out of the contents as a package is handled, permitting ready access to the packaged contents and the reclosing or resealing of the package as the contents are withdrawn in small quantities for consumption.

- Such products as coffee, in bean and ground form, put up in pound paper bags, have been in the market for sale to housewives and have been sold in large quantities. Heretofore, such packages have been closed with a tying member consisting of a fiat, narrow piece of readily bendable metal, having thereon a paper covering, which tying member was attached below the mouth of the bag, either by clinching the tying member through a wall of the bag, or by rst attaching the tying member to a strip of paper and then pasting the strip of paper across the bag near the mouth thereof. The ends of the metal strip of such tying members extend beyond the side edges of the bag and, after the bag has been filled with a given quantity of material, the mouth end of the bag is repeatedly rolled or folded over the tying member and the extending ends of the tying member are then folded over the body of the bag. The bags had to be made of extra length in order to provide a place of attachment for the tying member and to provide material for the repeated rolling or folding operations. These operations were primarily performed by hand and produced, on the whole, a very unsatisfactory package. It was necessary for the housewife, in order to keep the package sealed, to roll down the bag as the material was withdrawn, or else empty the contents of the bag into a separate container.

'I'he present invention eliminates the many objectionable features to the previous practice, and

results in many advantages, which will appearl from the following specification.

In the accompanying drawing, Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a closed package with the closure member being slid to closing position; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a folded duplex paper bag; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the closure member; Fig. 4 is a bottom view of the closure member; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a package with the closure member in position kin connection vwith a bag, part of the contents of which has been withdrawn; Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary end view of the upper portion of the bag and closure member; and Figs. 7 and 8 are similar to Fig. 6, showing modified forms of the invention. 5 This invention, for the purpose of illustration, is shown and described in use with a duplex paper bag. The container I comprises an outer bag body 2, consisting of the bottom 3, the side walls, 4, and the end walls 5. The bag body 2, is pro- 10 vided with a lining 6, which is coextensive with the bottom, side and end walls of the body. The bag body is creased at 1, in order that the bottom 3 of the bag may be folded flat against the body thereof and the end walls 5 are provided 15 with creases 8, in order that the end walls may be folded inwardly, which creases permit folding of the entire bag in a fiat condition, as shown Ain Fig. 2, whereby the bags may be stacked in quantities for bundling and shipment. The bag 20 is preferably made with a rectangular bottom of greater length than its width, in order that the bag, when filled, will stand upright.

The bag, of the type shown in Fig. 2, having an outer body and a coextensive inner lining, is gg filled with a predetermined, weighed or measured amount of a loose bulk material and the portions of the end walls 5, above the level of the contents of the container, are then tucked inwardly, as show'n in Fig. ,1, and the mouth end 30 of the bag is then folded over to form an upstanding flange 9, a fold I0, and a downwardly extending lip II. The fold I0, if desired, may be previously scored, as indicated at I2, in Fig. 2, for convenience in closing the filled package. 35 In the type of duplex bag shown in Fig. 2, the upstanding flange 9, the fold I0, and the lip II, when folded as shown in Fig. 1, will consist, at the outer edges, of eight thicknesses of paper, and at the central portion,` of four thicknesses 40 of paper, which can readily be understood fromv an examination of Fig. 2, by `noting the folding of the paper in creasing along the line I2. 'I'he eight thicknesses of folded paper, at both marginal edges of the package, provide substantial thick- 45 ness and result in the fold I0 taking a bead-like formation I3, as shown in Fig. 6. 'Ihe folding allowance, necessary to constitute the flange 9, the fold III, and the lip II, need not exceed one inch, that allowance being ample to obtain a satisfactory sift-proof closure and permitting the lip II and the mouth edge I4 'of the bag, to lie flat against the flange 9, without folding or distorting the edge I4 of the bag mouth, either during the folding `operation or the subsequent handling of wings I1, formed by bending the lateral edges v ofthe closure member .inwardly and upwardly. The faces of the edges I8 of the wings. consequently lie in intersecting planes. 'Ihe wings I1 are preferably spaced apart a distance less than .15 the combined thickness of the outer edges of the flange l and lip II, defining a slot 2l .between The distance apart of the edges Il is dependent upon the thickness of the folds l and II. It has been found that if these edges Il normally touch orare too close together, it is'not practical to slide the closure member into position over the folds and to remove it by sliding motion. For these reasons, it is recommended that the dis- 2g tance apart of the edges I8 be regulated in the construction of the closure member so as toproduce a lengthwise slotllbetween said edges, which is slightly less in width than the combined thickness of the ilange 8 and lip II. There is a slight V spring action to the closure' member when .made lof metal, tending to force the edges I8 securely against the folds. In order to more conveniently introduce the folds into the closure member, the closure member is slightly cut away at its under 3g,ends, asshowninFig. 4.

` The closure member is slidably secured to the folded end of the container by introducing one end of the fold between the wings I'I and then sliding the closure member completely over the 40 fold III and against the ange 9 and the lip II. "It is preferred to have the edges Il of the wings I 1 so closely together that they will compress the flange 9 and the lip II at the line of engagement and in instances where this relation is exgceedingly close, the edges Il may tend to cut slightly into the outer sheet of the flange 9 and the lip II. The fold III fits within the channel I9 and will assume a more or less loose character, somewhat in the form of a bead I3, com- 5Qprised wholly of material of the bag body and lining. 'Ihe bead-like formation I3 is thicker than the thickness of the flange 9 and the lip II underneath the edges I8 of the wings I1 and in consequence, the extra lbead thickness tends to 55 ,assist in holding the closure member rmly in 'position against upward strain or pull on. the

closure during handling or carrying of the package.

'I'he user of the contents of the package can en readily slide the closure retaining member from the closure end of the package and it will be found that the edge Il of the mouth of the bag has not been deformed or creased but, on the contrary, remaining in substantially the flat consdition in which it comes off the bag machine. 'Ihe contents of the bag may consequently readily flow from the bag in order that a desired amount of the contents may be withdrawn. As the level of the material in the bag falls. by reason of with- 70 i.drawal of part of the contents, the container may `be folded along a new line, such as 25, in Fig. 5, just above the new contents level, and the closure member may be again slid into securing position in the same manner as it was initially N5A vapplied to the container.

The invention has been disclosed in connection with a duplex bag, but it is equally applicable to containers of but a single thickness of material, which may have theiropen mouths folded down once, or, if desired, a double fold may be made g in the lip by folding the loose end of the lip. preferably inwardly on the under side of the lip ii,sothatitmay.ifdesired,passalsointothe slot 24.

A different type of fold is shown in Fig. 7, 10 which may be desirable for use in some The fold shown in Fig. 7 is preferably made. by scoring the mouth end of the container at Il, 2i and 22, and then folding along these lines, with the fold 2i depressed with respect to the 15 folds 2l and 2.2. In this instance, th'e closure retaining member II is slid into position in the same manner'as heretofore described.

A modification of the type of closure member isshown in Fig. 8, inwhich the closure retaining 20 member is substantially circular in cross-section Y and the edges 2l lie in substantially the same plane, but otherwise the use of the closure member is the same as described..l

I claim: 25

l. A package comprising a duplex paper bag having an outer paper body and an inner paper lining, said lining being substantially coextensive with the body, said body and lining forming a bottom, side walls, end walls and a o'losure 30..; portion, said container being adapted to hold a predetermined amount of loose material, said closure portion having an upstanding flange, a fold and a downwardly extending lip said ange and lip being in surface engagement, a closure retaining member slidably arranged to hold said 4ilange and lip together, said closure retaining member comprising a back, spaced wings extending inwardly and upwardly. oppositely positioned retaining edges on said wings, said edges en- 40- gaging said lip and said flange at a distance below said fold and pressing said lip and flange together along the line of contact of said edges with said portions of said ange and lip.

2.-A package comprising a duplex paper bag 45,:

having an outer paper body and an inner paper lining, said lining being substantially coextensive with the body, said body and lining forming a bottom, side walls, end walls and a closure portion, said end walls being foldable inwardly be- I v tween the side walls, said container being adapted to hold a predetermined amount of loose material, said closure portion having an upstanding flange, a fold and a downwardly extending lip4 said flange and lip being in surface engagement,

thel folds of said end walls being extended sub-l stantially to the level of the upper surface of thematerial contained in said package and folded inwardly between the side walls and extending in folded condition into said ange, fold and lip. 6or providing multiple thickness of material at the marginal portions of said ange, fold and lip, a closure retaining member slidably arranged to hold said flange and lip together, said closure retaining member comprising a back, spaced wings r extending inwardly and upwardly, edges on said wings, said edges engaging said lip and said flange at a distance below said fold and pressing said lip and flange together along the line of contact of said edges with said portions of said :flange -3;

material, said container being adapted to hold a 75.;

predetermined weighed quantity of loose material, the portion of said container above the level of the upper surface of said material being folded to provide an upstanding flange, a fold and a downwardly projecting lip said flange and lip being in surface engagement, a closure retaining member engaging said flange and lip and freely slidable in a direction parallel to said fold, said closure retaining member comprising a section of sheet metal having its side edges bent inwardly toward each other, providing a continuous space within said closure member, said edges being spaced apart a distance less than the combined thickness of said Vupstanding flange and lip, said flange and lip being positioned between the aligned edges of the closure retaining member and being held together in close engagement along the line of contact of said closure member with said portions of said flange and lip, one edge of said closure retaining member pressing against said lip and the other edge pressing against said flange, said fold and the upper portions of said upstanding flangeand lip, extending into said continuous space within said closure member, said container being adapted to be folded at succeeding levels of the said loose material, as material is withdrawn from said container, and said closure member being adapted to so slidably llt over each of such successive folds.

4. A package containing a loose material, such as coffee, comprising an outer body and an inner lining, having a bottom, sides and ends, said body and lining being made wholly of paper and readily foldable by hand over the entire surface of said body and lining from the bottom thereof to and including the mouth thereof, said container being adapted to hold a weighed amount of coffee, the upper portion of the body and lining being folded above the upper surface level of the coffee to form an upstanding flange, a loose fold and a downwardly projecting lip said flange and lip being in surface engagement, a closure retaining member formed of sheet metal, said closure retaining member having its ends bent downwardly to form a back and continuous, substantially aligned edges, the distance apart of said edges being less than the thickness of said flange and lip, said flange and lip beingpositioned between' the aligned edges of the closure retaining member and being held together in close engagement along the line of contact of said closure member with said portions of said flange and lip the said edges of said closure retaining member compressing the said flange and said lip inwardly at the base of said loose fold, and sealing the container against the escape of the contents thereof, said loose fold lying within the space formed by the back and downwardly bent edges of said closure retaining member, said closure retaining member being retained in position solely by contact with said flange and lip and being removable to permit removal of part of said coffee, by sliding it lengthwise of said flange and lip,'said body and lining being foldable crosswise of the container at any level formed by the coffee after removal of part thereof, to againform a flange, loose fold and lip, and said closure member being adapted to slide over said last mentioned flange, fold and lip, in the same manner as herein described.

5. A package containing a loose material such as coffee, comprising an outer body, and an inner lining, having a bottom, sides and ends, said body and lining being made wholly of paper and readily foldable by hand over the entire surface of said body and lining from the bottom thereof to and including the mouth thereof, the upper portion of the body and lining being folded above the 5 upper surface' level of the contents thereof to form an upstanding flange, a fold and a downwardly projecting lip, said flange and lip being in surface engagement, a closure retaining member formed of sheet metal having a back and depending side portions, said -back and depending side portions being substantially circular in cross section and forming internally thereof a substantially tubular channel, the edges of 'the depending side portions being spaced apart and facing each other to form a slot between said facing edges, the width of said slot being slightly less than the thickness of the said flange and lip beneath the said fold, said fold being positioned within said channel and the inside surface of said flange and lip being in surface engagement and positioned in said slot between said facing edges and held together in close engagement along the line of contact of said facing edges with said portions of said flange and lip, said closure member being adapted to slide lengthwise over the outer surfaces of said flange and lip to open and close said package, said body and lining being foldable crosswise of the container at anylevel formed by the contents thereof after removal of a part thereof to again form a flange, fold and lip, and said closure member being adapted to slide over such last mentioned flange, fold and lip in t he same manner as herein described.

6. A closure member for containers adapted to hold loose bulk material, comprising bent sheet metal having a back, downwardly extending portions on each side of the back forming a channel, wings extending inwardly and upwardly with respect to said downwardly extending portions, said wings extending toward said channel and y terminating in oppositely positioned free edges rfacing each other, said wings being disposed angularly with respect to said downwardly extending portions, said edges forming a slot located at the lower portion of said closure member, said slot being of a predetermined width and bordered on each side by the free facing edges of said wings and being adapted to have a port tion of a bag-fold threaded thereinto, with the said facing edges pressing on opposite sides of said fold to retain the portions of said fold in surface contact.

7. A closure member for containers adapted to hold loose bulk material, comprising bent sheet metal having a back, downwardly extending portions on each side of the back forming a channel, said downwardly extending portions extending inwardly to form the bottom of said channel and terminating in oppositely positioned free 00 edges facing each other, said edges ybeing disposed in an arc with respect to said downwardly extending portions, said edges forming a slot located at the lower portion of said closure member, said slot being of a predetermined width and bordered on each side by the free facing edges of said portions and being adapted to have a portion of a bag-fold threaded thereinto, with the said facing edges pressing on opposite sides of said fold to retain the portions of said fold in surface contact, the-said closure member being substantially circular in cross section.

vWILLIS J. PIPPERT. 

